The Hodgman Liberal Government has released the final draft of the Biosecurity Bill 2019 for public comment.
The draft Bill will build on our current systems and provide a streamlined and more effective legal framework to better protect our primary industries and environment from potential diseases, pests and weeds.
Tasmania’s reputation as a premium producer of agricultural and seafood products and as a tourism destination, is reliant on a rigorous and effective biosecurity system.
Until now, Tasmania’s biosecurity has been managed under seven separate Acts. While these Acts have served us well, the draft bill proposes to consolidate Tasmania’s biosecurity laws into a single modern statute to ensure the legislation remains fit for purpose and avoids duplication.
The new draft Bill also reinforces how we are all responsible for helping to protect our state from potential diseases, pests and weeds, that is, Government, industry and the community working together.
This Bill is the outcome of more than four years of consultation involving a broad array of stakeholders who have engaged with the Government to assist with the final draft.
Amendments have been made based on feedback, and a small number of technical improvements were made in 2018 to address issues identified during the Queensland fruit fly response.
The State Government expects to be able to table the finalised Bill in Parliament in early 2019.
For more information, visit: https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/hot-topics
Feedback on the final exposure draft of the Bill can be emailed by 22 February 2019 to biosecuritybill@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
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